Insta360 X4 Air review – 360 camera thats lighter & cheaper. Is there a "But?"

Insta360's range of 360 cameras now offers both a premium 8K camera and this newer, lighter version of the X4. Usually, when companies offer a lesser camera in this space it is the resolution that suffers – GoPro's old Max (1) being a case in point, or the X3 – but here the X4 Air has the same 8K as the X5 and, in fact, bigger imaging sensors than the original X4.

Where, then, is the compromise? Well, it is lighter, so rest assured that I'll be looking quite closely at the battery life (which officially caps at 88 minutes in the lab at 8K)

The stills resolution seems to be capped at 29MP so this is definitely more of a video camera, though if you're an action enthusiast also looking to get traditional video, there are still one-lens modes. Some of the low-light modes for the X5 aren't included too, so I'll just try the camera in a dark room and we'll see how it does!

The key principles of 360 photography are still very much respected. The camera has a screw hole for the Invisible Selfie Stick, it has "FlowState Stabilization" and HorizionLock, noise cancellation. There are also plenty of cool effects in camera thanks to InstaFrame, including subject tracking.

Insta360 X4 Air: Specs

Insta360 X4 Air: Pricing

• Camera only $399.99 / £359 / AU$639.99
• Starter Bundle (Selfie stick, lens cap, extra battery) $439 / £389 / AU$699.99

At the worldwide launch on October 28 2025, the price was over $100 less than Insta360's premium device, the X5 (which was $549 / £519 at launch), yet still boasts 8K resolution. The X4 Air also has a lens replacement system – very handy on a 360 camera as we'll see, and not ubiquitous.

Insta360 X4 Air: Build and handling

At first glance, I didn't immediately appreciate the difference between the Insta360 X4 Air and its siblings, the X4 and X5. When they're not actually next to each other, they're not massively different in size – though the X4 Air is noticeably smaller and thinner. Moreover they adopt exactly the same design language; they're rectangualar, with a portrait touchscreen on one side.

Of course there are back-to-back fish-eye lenses; together they give the camera a spherical all-around view of the world which it can stitch together for that 360 view. These are both near the 'top' on the flatter sides, while the edge of the camera has a textured grip that still feels to be a quality component despite the lower cost.

A notable difference is that below the touchscreen there is only the shutter button on the X4 Air, whereas the X5 has a shutter and a menu button, as well as a power and a QuickShot button on the side. Clearly, Insta360 has decided there isn't the space for as many physical buttons (personally, I don't mind as they can be more confusing than helpful on a 360 camera anyway).

There is still a QuickShot button though – to begin shooting from standby mode – on the side, on the side, next to the power button.

I did notice that the plastic on the front next to the name seemed a little scratchy when compared to the X5, even if all the edges felt of good quality. Overall, though, I had no concerns about the robust nature of the camera and the most important thing is that it is possible – with a $30 kit and included tool – to replace the lenses without sending the camera away or paying someone to do the job. That is excellent news, and a great bit of design (which explains the three blades around the rim of the lens that are faintly reminiscent of a radiation symbol).

Power comes from a detachable battery, which has waterproof latches, in a similar design the camera's bigger brother. A smaller flapped door with a waterproof latch exists on the opposite side (beneath the buttons) with a USB-C port beneath it. The upshot of all this is 15m (49ft) waterproofing. This can charge the battery present in the camera though files can also be downloaded by Wi-Fi / Bluetooth and one of the first things the camera will try and do is encourage you to download the app.

Insta360 is well established in the 360 camera game and has an app for iOS and Android, as well as for Windows & Mac, and plugins for FCPX and Premiere which means that at the moment Insta360 probably has the edge over its 360 hardware competition in terms of software.

Insta360 X4 Air: Performance

In simple operation as a 360 video, the camera is straightforward to use and responsive, which is a very good start. The power switch gives you a power on chime and has the active preview screen ready in a couple of seconds, from where you can swipe to any angle on the admittedly compact but crisp 2.5-inch touchscreen without worrying about any lag, or access the modes menu.

Insta360 keeps the screen tidy with features like tucking the battery percentage away under a graphic, but flying it out if you tap on the battery. I was worried about the battery, but actually it lasted longer than I anticipated when I took the device out on a job.

The selfie view did a good job of keeping me in shot, a bit like a smart gimbal, making traditional cameras seem a little old-fashioned, too.

Image quality in good light was difficult to dispute, and in lower light stills look OK (so long as you're not planning to zoom in too far to a specific point). Camera movement in low-light video, however, isn't especially well forgiven so while I got some nice videos with the camera on a support, when only people were moving, giving speeches or eating (it was a wedding), the shots on the classic invisible selife pole were more prone to exaggerated vibration.

Sample Video

Insta360 X4 Air: Overall Verdict

I used the Insta360 X4 Air in the same kind if locations that I'd use any other 360-degree camera, indoors and out, and I found that the video looked good and was just as easy to work with.

Despite the lack of a specific low-light mode, I got decent footage recording speeches from the camera on a fixed post at a wedding in a dark venue, so there are possibilities. The system's smarts are even more impressive in good light, though, as the InstaFrame feature revealed to me, when it had no problem keeping my face in shot. (I also liked the fun stuff like the barrel roll feature).

Insta360 has been generous with the feature list – road mode, star lapse etc. – which is not always true of action cameras and their cheaper models (loud cough and looks in the direction of GoPro). The option of a Mini Remote that fits into the Foldable 2-in-1 Selfie Stick was also a nice plus (Insta360 lent me one of these to try with the camera) and the only thing I didn't like was that, by default, the camera loudly said "Start recording" when it did. Me, I'd have had this quiet unless enabled!

So, to answer the original question I had – is this camera the solution or should you still go for the premium options? For the answer to that I've got a full guide (best 360 cameras) but I honestly think that the TLDR is for video in the day, when most people capture their 360 action, this is a great solution – otherwise there are still good reasons to look elsewhere. But don't worry too much about the battery or the resolution.

Alternatives

The Insta360 X5 is the most obvious alternative. Similar design and advantages, with longer battery life, still 8K and, as the name implies, it boasts a lot of maturity when it comes to features. There is also rugged design (user-replaceable lenses? Check). It is better in low light.

View Deal

The GoPro Max is being sold off cheaply all over because the GoPro Max 2 is finally available, and if you're looking for a discounted camera from a major brand it might be the one to look for at the end of 2025 despite its many limitations, just because of the low prices.

View Deal